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Jumping hurdles (Opinion)

3rd September 2021 - 09:00 GMT | by Tim Fish in Auckland

RSS

Australia’s Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle is rumoured to face lengthy delays over technical issues. (Photo: Australian Defence Force)

Several recent land acquisition programmes have run into difficulties — but should delays and cost overruns be accepted as the norm? If not, what exactly needs to change?

Okay, so all defence acquisition programmes run into problems, right? Off the top of your head, name one major new air, land or naval platform procurement effort that has not suffered some kind of issue causing delays and cost increases. I am sure there could be one or two out there, but none spring immediately to mind.

So, should we be concerned about the problems that have been uncovered with recent projects?

The latest are related to the rumours surrounding Australia’s Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle. Although flat-out denied by the Australian DoD, local TV station ABC has reported that there are concerns in the military due to turret integration and the weight of the vehicle.

Warrior IFV upgrade, and it now looks as if the British Army’s Ajax armoured reconnaissance

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